Safety resilient slip coupling for pierced earrings

ABSTRACT

A safety resilient slip coupling between the ornament or pendant and the pierced ear supporting member to prevent damage to the ear when the earring is accidentally caught in something or is snatched from the wearer&#39;&#39;s ear. A releasable magnetic coupling may be used to attach the ornament, alternatively to a resilient coupling. Another device provides a detachable connection to the ear lobe itself.

United I States Patent 1191 l 1111 3,890,800 Montague June 24, 1975 [54] SAFETY RESILIENT SLIP COUPLING FOR 3,263,444 8/1966 DiCroce 63/29 M UX PIERCE) EARRINGS 3,352,467 11/1967 Parlante et a]. 24/20] TR [76] Inventor: Donald J. Montague, Casilla 37 14, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ima. Peru 620,113 10/1935 Germany 63/13 [22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1973 Primary ExaminerF. Barry Shay PP' 404,848 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burns, Doane, Swecker &

' Mathis [52] U.S. Cl 63/13; 24/201 M; 24/201 TR;

63/29 M [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A44c 7/00 A Safet y resilient sl1p coupling between the ornament [58] v Fleld of Search 63/12, 13, 29FR,229 M, or pendant and the pierced ear Supporting member to 24/201 20] 73 230 30 SL prevent damage to the ear when the earring is accidentally caught in something or is snatched from the [5-6] References cued wearers ear. A releasable magnetic coupling may be UNITED STATES PATENTS used to attach the ornament, alternatively to a resil- 477.154 6/l892 Ouein 24/20] S X ient coupling. Another device provides a detachable 1.747.893 2/1930 I Fisher 24/73 CF UX connection to the ear lobe itself. 1,752.619 4/1930 Summerfeld. 24/201 TR 2.509598 5/1950 Hart 24/201 TR 10 Clalms, l1 Drawmg Figures PATENTEBJUN24 880,800

sum 1 SAFETY RESILIENT SLIP'COUPLING FOR PIERCED EARRINGS As is well known, many women have their ear lobes pierced for the reception of the supporting or suspending loops of earrings because there is practically no chance of accidental loss of the earrings as' there is in the use of the ear lobe clamp type. In the latter type, a securely adjusted clamp hurts the ear lobe and if not securely tightened, the earring will drop off in'many cases without the wearer being aware of it.

Prior to the present invention, pierced earrings have also had their disadvantages which are basically two fold in number. First of all, the pendant ornament is quite easily caught during wear by clothing, in combing the hair, etc. causing a severe pull on the pendant ornament and resulting in partial tearing of the ear lobe with its attendant pain and danger of infection Secondly, and more important, where the pendant ornament comprises expensive jewelry, etc., there is a real danger of a thief brutally snatching the earrings and tearing completely through the ear lobe.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide an improved pierced earring which is free of the above and other disadvantages.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved pierced earring which will prevent the tearing of the ear lobe when the ornament is caught in anything or pulled for any reason.

A further important advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved pierced earring having a safety resilient slip coupling between the pendant ornament or jewel and its supporting ear piercing loop.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, there are shown several embodiments of the invention. In these showings.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an earring embodying the invention in position-in the ear lobe of a wearer;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a still further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal plan view thereof taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of another form of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken on the lines 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a further form of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view thereof taken on the lines ll-1lof FIG. 10. I

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, numeral l0 designates a supporting loop of bentspring wire formed of any suitable material such as plastic, gold, silver, etc. which passes through the pierced ear lobe L of a wearer. Both legs of the wire are bent downwardly and inwardly toward each other and then outwardly to terminate in curved ends 12, 14.

An ornamental pendant or jewel .l is suspended by one or more rings 16 from a small loop 18 formed in a pendant supporting wire loop or bar 20 having legs which are upwardly and inwardly bent toward each other and then outwardly to terminate in curved ends 22, 24 which are fixed as by soldering to the inner side of an ornamental yoke 26 at diametrically opposite points.

The safety slip coupling between the supporting loop 10 and the yoke 26 is readily formed by moving the curved ends l2, 14 together from their at-rest untensioned positions shown in dotted lines and inserting them downwardly through the yoke 20 upon which they are released to resiliently clasp the yoke. The pendant .l is thus securely supported against accidental loss but any pull on it will cause the yoke 26 to pull free of the leg ends l2, 14 without tearing or damaging the ear lobe L.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein like parts bear like numbers, the supporting loop 28 has a small upwardly bent portion 30 from which its legs 31 and 32 are upwardly and outwardly inclined. The leg 31 terminates in a simple hook clasp 34 while the leg 32 after curving to pass through the ear lobe L is provided with a downturned end 36 which is engaged within the clasp 34 to secure the earring.

The pendant supporting loop 38 is formed by a soldered together pair of upwardly curved ornamental leaf springs 40 from which the pendant supporting ring 16 depends. It will be apparent that the upwardly ends of the leaf springs 40 will resiliently grasp the lower portion of the supporting loop 28. Thus, a pull on the pendant J causesthe leaf spring ends to spread and release the loop 28 without tearing of or damage to the ear lobe L.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 5, the supporting loop 42 has upwardly and outwardly inclined legs 43 and 44. The leg 43 terminates in a simple hook clasp 45 while the leg 44, after curving to pass through the ear lobe L, is provided with a downturned end 46 which is engaged within the clasp 45 to secure the loop 42 to the lobe L.

The pendant supporting loop 48 from which the pendant supporting ring [6 depends, is formed of ornamental, high tensile spring wire and includes upwardly inclined convergent-divergent and crossing legs 50 terminating in loops 52 having upwardly convergent legs 53 terminating in ends 54. The ends 54 are spread away from each other to be inserted over the supporting loop 42 and then resiliently engage the same. It will be apparent that a pull on the pendant J causes the ends 54 to again spread to release the loop 42 without tearing of or damage to the lobe L.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 6 and 7, the supporting loop 55 comprises an ornamental yoke 56 from which a pair of diametrically op'positely positioned legs 57 and 58 extend upwardly I and outwardly. The leg 57 terminates in a simple hook I clasp'60 while the leg 58 after curving inwardly to pass through the ear lobe L is provided with a downturned end 62 which is engaged within the clasp to secure the loop 55 to the lobe L.

The pendant supporting loop from which the pendant supporting ring 16 depends, is in the form of an ornamental yoke 64. The yokes 56 and 64 are resiliently coupled by an X-shaped ornamental wire piece 66 formed of two relatively stiff, high tensile wire pieces 67 soldered angularly together at their centers. Thus, a pull on the pendant J causes the ends of the X-shaped wire piece flex towards each other to release the yoke 64 from the yoke56 without tearing of or damage to the lobe L.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, the supporting loop 68 has upwardly and outwardly inclined legs 69 and 70. The leg 69 terminates in a simple hook clasp 72 while the leg 70, after curving to pass through the ear lobe L, is provided with a downturned end 74 which is engaged within the clasp 72 to secure the loop 68 to the lobe L.

The pendant supporting ring 16 is connected to a short ferrous rod 76 which is received in a plastic socket 78 to the base of which a magnet 80 is secured. The magnetic field is such, that a pull on the pendant causes the rod 76 to be released by the magnet without tearing of or damage to the ear lobe L.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10, the supporting loop 82 is formed of two upwardly and outwardly inclined legs 83 and 84 which are then inwardly inclined and terminate in a pair of beaded ends 85 and 86 each of which halfway pierces the ear lobe L as shown. The lower ends of the legs pass through a compression spring 87 and terminate in spring supporting outturned portions 88. The pendant supporting ring 16 is mounted on a rod 89 extending upwardly within the spring 87 and terminating in a tapered cone 90 which is diametrically notched as at 92 to receive the legs 83 and 84.

It will be readily apparent that a pull on the pendant supported by ring 16 will depress the cone 90 to spread the legs 83 and 84 above the spring to withdraw the ear lobe piercing beaded ends 85 and 86 from the lobe L without damage thereto.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferredexamples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pierced earring having a safety coupling comprising:

an elongated spring member formed into a loop for insertion through an aperture in an earlobe;

an earring ornament; and,

means for supporting said ornament from said loop,

said ornament supporting means being secured to said earring ornament and being automatically operable under tension between said loop and said earring ornament downwardly away from the portion of said loop that normally rests in the earlobe aperture to separate said loop from said ornament supporting means thereby eliminating tension on the loop and protecting the earlobe from damage.

2. The earring of claim 1 wherein one of the free ends of said loop forms a resilient clamp for the other end thereof whereby operation of said clamp to free said other end permits the manual removal of said loop from the earlobe irrespective of the operation of said ornament supporting means to separate said ornament from said loop.

3. The earring of claim 1 wherein said ornament supporting means includes a yoke with opposing spaced surfaces; and,

wherein the ends of said loop are substantially equidistant from the earlobe when the earring is worn, are laterally biased apart a distance greater than the distance between the opposing surfaces of said yoke, are laterally and resiliently compressible to a distance less than the distance between the opposing surfaces of said yoke for manual insertion into said yoke for retention through contact with said surfaces, and are laterally and resiliently compressible by the surfaces of said yoke to permit the withdrawal thereof from said yoke under tension between said loop and said ornament.

4. The earring of claim 3 wherein said yoke is generally ellipsoidal in cross section with the major axis of the ellipse generally parallel to the portion of said loop which is to rest in an aperture in the earlobe.

5. The earring of claim 1 wherein said loop includes a lower portion having upwardly and laterally outwardly extending legs; and,

wherein said ornament supporting means includes a pair of upwardly and laterally outwardly extending arms, said arms being laterally biased apart a distance less than the lateral spacing between the legs of said loop, being laterally and resiliently manually separable to receive the lower portion of said loop for retention through contact therewith, and being laterally and resiliently separable to permit the withdrawal of the lower portion of said loop from therebetween under tension between said loop and said ornament.

6. The earring of claim 1 wherein said loop includes a lower generally U-shaped portion; and,

wherein said ornament supporting means includes a spring wire terminating in upwardly extending crossed arms, said arms being resiliently biased into contact with each other, being laterally and resiliently separable for the manual insertion of the U- shaped portion of said loop therebetween into a space beneath the point of contact of said arms, and being laterally and resiliently separable to permit the withdrawal of the U-shaped portion of said loop from said space upon tension between said loop and said ornament.

7. The earring of claim 1 wherein said loop includes a lower portion having a horizontally disposed ring; and,

wherein said ornament supporting means includes a pair of upwardly and outwardly extending arms, the ends of said arms being laterally biased apart a distance greater than the diameter of said ring, being laterally and resiliently compressible to a distance less than the diameter of said ring to permit the manual insertion thereof into said ring for retention by said bias, and being laterally and resiliently compressible to permit the withdrawal thereof from said ring under tension between said loop and said ornament.

8. The earring of claim 1 wherein said loop includes a first magnetic member having an exposed surface of one polarity; and,

ing a pair of depending spring legs;

a yoke; and

a second wire loop secured to said yoke, said first loop having means for forming a resilient slip coupling with said yoke, said means including a pair of depending spring legs capable of being compressed and inserted within said yoke to resiliently and releaseably claspfsaid yoke thereby coupling said loops.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said first loop includes a clasp for securing it to the ear lobe. l= 

2. The earring of claim 1 wherein one of the free ends of said loop forms a resilient clamp for the other end thereof whereby operation of said clamp to free said other end permits the manual removal of said loop from the earlobe irrespective of the operation of said ornament supporting means to separate said ornament from said loop.
 3. The earring of claim 1 wherein said ornament supporting means includes a yoke with opposing spaced surfaces; and, wherein the ends of said loop are substantially equidistant from the earlobe when the earring is worn, are laterally biased apart a distance greater than the distance between the opposing surfaces of said yoke, are laterally and resiliently compressible to a distance less than the distance between the opposing surfaces of said yoke for manual insertion into said yoke for retention through contact with said surfaces, and are laterally and resiliently compressible by the surfaces of said yoke to permit the withdrawal thereof from said yoke under tension between said loop and said ornament.
 4. The earring of claim 3 wherein said yoke is generally ellipsoidal in cross section with the major axis of the ellipse generally parallel to the portion of said loop which is to rest in an aperture in the earlobe.
 5. The earring of claim 1 wherein said loop includes a lower portion having upwardly and laterally outwardly extending legs; and, wherein said ornament supporting means includes a pair of upwardly and laterally outwardly extending arms, said arms bEing laterally biased apart a distance less than the lateral spacing between the legs of said loop, being laterally and resiliently manually separable to receive the lower portion of said loop for retention through contact therewith, and being laterally and resiliently separable to permit the withdrawal of the lower portion of said loop from therebetween under tension between said loop and said ornament.
 6. The earring of claim 1 wherein said loop includes a lower generally U-shaped portion; and, wherein said ornament supporting means includes a spring wire terminating in upwardly extending crossed arms, said arms being resiliently biased into contact with each other, being laterally and resiliently separable for the manual insertion of the U-shaped portion of said loop therebetween into a space beneath the point of contact of said arms, and being laterally and resiliently separable to permit the withdrawal of the U-shaped portion of said loop from said space upon tension between said loop and said ornament.
 7. The earring of claim 1 wherein said loop includes a lower portion having a horizontally disposed ring; and, wherein said ornament supporting means includes a pair of upwardly and outwardly extending arms, the ends of said arms being laterally biased apart a distance greater than the diameter of said ring, being laterally and resiliently compressible to a distance less than the diameter of said ring to permit the manual insertion thereof into said ring for retention by said bias, and being laterally and resiliently compressible to permit the withdrawal thereof from said ring under tension between said loop and said ornament.
 8. The earring of claim 1 wherein said loop includes a first magnetic member having an exposed surface of one polarity; and, wherein said ornament supporting means includes a second magnetic member having an exposed surface of a polarity opposite to the polarity of the exposed surface of said first magnetic member, the exposed surfaces of said magnetic members being adapted for mutual engagement whereby said earring ornament supporting means may be separable from said loop under tension to protect the earlobe from damage.
 9. A safety coupling for pierced earrings comprising, in combination: a first loop for insertion through an ear lobe and having a pair of depending spring legs; a yoke; and a second wire loop secured to said yoke, said first loop having means for forming a resilient slip coupling with said yoke, said means including a pair of depending spring legs capable of being compressed and inserted within said yoke to resiliently and releaseably clasp said yoke thereby coupling said loops.
 10. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said first loop includes a clasp for securing it to the ear lobe. 